By Brendan Rees
An ice-addicted South-East tradie who broke into a number of homes, stealing a car, electronics, jewellery, and other items totalling about $250,000 has been jailed.
Dejan Culibrk of Cranbourne North pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court sitting in Melbourne on 12 July to 24 charges including burglary, theft, obtaining property by deception, and possessing a drug of dependence.
The 33-year-old carpenter’s crime spree began in July, 2017 when broke into a home in Cranbourne West where he had been employed by the owner to carry out roof repairs, Judge Richard Smith said.
There he stole various electronic items and jewellery worth about $15,000 as well as a credit card which was used to purchase goods on 24 occasions.
On 29 October, 2017 he gained entry into a residential property in Dandenong South, stealing power tools, computers, an iPhone and other items worth about $14,400 – three days after failing to attend court on bail.
In another break-in at a construction site in Clyde North between the 29th and 30th of November, he stole television sets, a computer, an iPad, a telephone, and other items worth about $7,245, Judge Smith said.
On 8 December police arrested Culibrk who was in possession of anabolic steroids and oxycodone.
Less than a week later Culibrk filled up his car with fuel at a BP service station in Cranbourne and drove off without paying.
Within the same month, Culibrk ransacked a residential property in Lyndhurst with a co-offender, stealing items totalling about $28,000 as well as a Toyota Camry, Judge Smith said
Police arrested Culibrk and his brother on 2 January, 2018 after they forced entry into a Braeside business, stealing safety gear items, cash, and assorted keys.
The court heard Culibrk was possession of the keys to the stolen Camry, a hunting knife, and three Stanley knives.
Police executed warrants at two residential properties in Hampton Park and Cranbourne North, seizing a number of stolen goods.
In sentencing, Judge Smith told Culibrk these two houses were the subject of forfeiture orders and “may have to be sold in the near future,” with his family facing the possibility of having to “move from them.”
Born in Yugoslavia, Culibrk migrated to Australia aged six with his family, the court was told.
He worked with his father in the construction industry but a failed attempt to start his own business led him to gambling and using ice daily as well as methamphetamines.
The court heard Culibrk’s defence argued his thefts had “elements of hoarding behaviour.”
“I think it’s highly likely that your burglaries (and) thefts were conducted with financial gain in mind,” Judge Smith said.
“You appear to be the instigator of such offending conduct – a beneficiary of the goods stolen by you.”
Culibrk was sentenced to up to five years’ jail, with a non-parole period of three years.
